Populism: A Political Ideology: Response To The 19th Century

The Populist Party was the people’s party, hence the name Populist, the party was created in the late 1800s when the Southern Famer alliance contacted Powderly, the head of The Knights of Labor. The party’s first platform was called the Omaha Platform which called for the abolition of the national bank, graduated income tax, direct election of senators, civil service reform, an eight hour work week, and the gov’t control of railroads, telegraphs and telephones. The Populists supported the Prohibition

The Populists and Progressive were form of movement that occurred during the outbreaks of the workers union after the civil war. The populists began during the late 1800s.The progressive began during the 1900s. There are many differences between these two movements, but yet these movements have many things that are similar.

I view most of their proposals reasonable, except their demands on restricting immigration and prohibition of alien land ownership. American Exceptionalism says that it is our destiny to dominate this continent, but we have specific characteristics that differentiates us from Europeans. One is American freedom. At this time, the populists excluded immigrants or aliens, so I find these demands unreasonable. Their beliefs of “that the power of government—in other words, of the people—should be expanded,”

Throughout the 1880s and 1890s America was going through many changes and many of these were fought by the Populists. Silver being demonetized was another major problem for the Populists and they fought it along with asking for a national government regulated currency as well. The Populist Party also fought against the harsh taxes that were in place at the time in the United States. The biggest concern for many of the Populists was how to handle crop failures and how prices were to be controlled. All in all, the Populist movement was centered on helping out the farmers and improving the ever changing economy.

The Populist Movement ultimately failed to survive because of their desire for inflation and the support for the coinage of silver, as well as the fact that they merged with the Democratic Party to combat the Republicans. The 1896 election undermined agrarian insurgency, and a period of rapidly rising farm prices helped to bring about the dissolution of the Populist Party. Another important factor in the failure of the party was its inability to affect a genuine urban-rural coalition; its program had little appeal for wage earners of the industrial east. Although the populists were not outright socialists, many conservative interests saw the Populists as a threat to the basic economic system of the United States. The Populists’ agenda was

They educated the public of their interests through publications and public speaking throughout the rural areas of America. Through education, they sought to appeal to the working class of people, mainly those who produced goods, as they believed in a strong community organization. The Populist Party tried to appeal to industrial workers, but failed to connect with the population of mostly immigrants and Catholics. Although Populism didn’t appeal to some people, it nevertheless worked towards providing democratic and economic opportunities for the working class of the United

The Big Question: How did farmers, activists, workers and politicians face the problems of industrial America during the Populist and Progressive Eras?

Due to “…falling agricultural prices and growing economic dependency” (Foner 636) in the mid-nineteenth century, farmers in the South began to face inevitable economic uncertainty. Farmers, both white and black alike, were thrown into poverty due to sharecropping and the fall of the price of cotton, and many faced the fear of losing everything they had due the inability to pay bank loans. Believing that their situation was caused by “…high freight rates…excessive interest rates for loans…and the fiscal policies of the government” (Foner 636), disgruntled farmers hoped to better their lives and conditions through the founding of the Farmers’ Alliance in the 1870s. However, by the 1890s, the Alliance transformed into what became known as the Populist Party. Keeping their roots in mind, the Populists sought to end what they considered political corruption and economic inequality that arose during the Reconstruction. In order to do so, they proposed “…the direct election of U.S. senators, government control of currency, a graduated income tax, a system of low-class public financing…the right of workers to form labor unions…[and a] public ownership of the railroads” (Foner 638). In addition to their propositions, the Populists were considered radical due to their embracement of science and technology, their belief that the

There was a widely accepted notion called populism that had led to an ‘us’ and ‘them’ concept,

The party adopted a platform calling for the free coinage of silver along with the abolition of national banks. Another aspect of the Populist Party, is a graduated income tax, government ownership of all forms of transportation and communication, and the election of Senators by direct vote of the people. Civil service reform, a working day of eight hours, postal banks, pensions, and the reform of immigration regulations are just some of the other views and beliefs of populists.

From 1890 to World War I, U.S experienced an era of social unrest, racial concerns, and questioning of true democracy. Many of these problems arise from the economic problems faced by growing American middle class. Because economy and politics are close linked, political parties and party platforms were inevitability affected by these changes in social patterns. A new political party, populists’ party, gained widespread acknowledgement from Americans while democrats and republicans set out to remake their platforms to fit the ideals of the common man. Faced with growing economic and expansion problems in American society, these three major influential parties of the era had their own distinct economic visions as well as similar interests as time progressed on.

The Populist Party formed when the Kansas Farmers’ Alliance joined with Knights of Labor to form a People’s Party. Populists wanted the people to have more power to end poverty and injustices. In 1892, the Populist Program was initiated where populists desired public ownership of the railroad and telegraph systems, protection of land and natural resources, federal income tax on highest incomes, and a looser monetary policy to favor borrowers. Populists also wanted to stop the government’s laissez faire attitude. In addition, they aimed for a secret ballot and direct election. Supporters of the Populist Party were made up of farmers, labor groups, prohibitionist and women’s suffrage advocates.

No, the populists were not irrational reactionaries. The Populist Party was formed mostly by farmers and laborers. Their goal was to advocate increased currency issue, wanted public ownership of the railroads, and proposed a graduated federal income tax instead of the tariffs. Farmers faced large debts and the prices of the crops falling dramatically. The farmers had to pay the loan in dollars’ which was worth more than it was borrowed. The government made most of its revenue from the tariffs, which took a large amount from the poor’s income than the riches, which increases the prices of the good, and that hurt the poor’s a lot more than0 the riches. The populists wanted a globally connected society that’s managed by the government and benefits

The Populists supported labor demands, such as people in the labor force only being allowed to work eight-hour workdays. The Populists tried to encourage more governmental control over the banking systems as well as governmental control over the operation of the nation's railroad and communication systems. One of the most controversial Populist demands was the money supply. Farmers saw inflation as a way to improve their way of living as the price level of their crops began to rise. The farmers also planned to expand the money supply at on point.

1. A permanent union of all working classes; wanted farmer and working to share the same bond.